Mages Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy are visiting the mystical land of Gyongxe, home of the First Temple of the Living Circle, which Rosethorn has sworn to defend. After visiting the emperor of the neighboring kingdom, Yanjing, and witnessing his cruelty and massive army, they are horrified to hear he is planning to invade Gyongxe. Returning to Gyongxe is dangerous, but they must warn their friends, and protect the many temples in the mountains. Each has a separate mission and must part ways, but plan to reunite on the battlefield. But danger lurks in every mountain pass, and the three mages may never see each other again.

Tamora Pierce takes Chinese culture and history and creates a new and fantastical world filled with one of a kind characters. Yanjing and Gyongxe are not real countries, but the subtle similarities with ancient China gives the impression that they could be very real indeed. The setting is magical, and the rich details will leap off the page. Pierce gives readers a clear picture of the mountains, gardens, and temples using rich details that make the setting pop.

Pierce uses clever dialogue which brings personality to the many characters of BATTLE MAGIC. No matter how important a character each one is animated and memorable. Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy, the three main characters, each grow and develop together and separately. Fans of the Circle of Magic series will not be disappointed with Briar's newest adventure, but readers don't have to have read prior books to keep up with and fall in love with this story. BATTLE MAGIC is a well - written, exciting adventure filled with plot twists and amazing characters. Readers will find BATTLE MAGIC to be an excellent way to entirely lose a weekend.